Patrick Reusse on the Vikings getting left behind in the NFC North

The Packers and Lions won playoff games Sunday. The Bears improved as the year went along and have the No. 1 overall pick. The Vikings? They are stuck in the middle, which might mean finishing at the bottom in 2024.

January 15, 2024 at 2:34PM
Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (97) and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown walks off the field after an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
The NFC North champion Lions won their first playoff game in more than three decades. (Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports, which included two pretty important NFL playoff games Sunday. The Packers routed the heavily favored Cowboys, adding even more fuel to Jordan Love's ascent. The Lions, meanwhile, won their first playoff game in more than three decades. The Vikings look like they could be the fourth-best team in a four-team division in 2024.

The Wild had a players-only meeting after a 6-0 loss to Arizona. They've already fired a head coach and tried to revive their season multiple times. If the reality is that they just aren't that good, what does that mean for the future?

The Wolves, on the other hand, are very good. A strong win over the Clippers provided further evidence. The Gophers men's and women's basketball teams, meanwhile, are in the midst of important stretches.

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Questions? Comments? Long-winded diatribes about nothing in particular? E-mail me at michael.rand@startribune.com. Follow me on Twitter @RandBall and Star Tribune sports @StribSports

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The Vikings wrap up a three-game road trip against the Bears, facing No. 1 pick Caleb Williams for the first time. Check back here often for live updates and analysis from Soldier Field.

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